Electrical controller for steering apparatus



Sept. 26, 1961 A. K. BARNICKEL ETAL 3,001,540

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER FOR STEERING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1958 mnxovw hmmf W 83/ gier gesf-eperatmn tin mew wrtsi'eular conditien- United Srates Pateht This invention relates generally to electrical control systems. While not limited thereto, it :relates parfieularhy 0 'a central-1e: for shipboard steering apparatus.

For reasons of 'safiety the :hylnaulic steering asystem D11 'snme ships is ipmvided with twn pumping w-hie'h are operable in :the alternative tn maintain hydrauii'c fluidtpressure =the hhydraulicrsystem. The :gelectricahapasseciatedwith eaehzpumpingiunit (is-Lathe mr m, s

plarloid mm, :and nentactczrr :fOI 'Ilhemoto'r) is enpervert-supply.

' .Anwidingly, it is an ebieetp zmansierring operatiem 55mm 191 6 -pi1 ef supply :to ithe aalmil' Mather object :is to mm; e 10f 'fiforesaifl charaeter wlngh e yermen nt :fer' of m mtinn in eve. -0'f1 Qe rnee fr/fill another BMW! "i atmller 0f 1111c efer seids v dition reierredw te'li eisele r nther pomii ien ref rred m is :lew wat age @f 'rpcmer; 41 111134;

A further bj ct is o whieh eiieets euternezie and :temp nary renafer x01E am ion frem :one l e meeheni l" ranslat ng w 121 021161 in :the ev nt mi in loww ltege feqnd t n efieets .rerranef x 110 said m ltflren lat ng; s1; 7 whemhelmvvel ege eendit pn i em eei sl- Y @zher ebjeete and dventegewef wtime, -ir en i n w l her inafter zapp ah a s TI h c mp nying d aw ng il ustrat s me .prefierred p 'ifl en i impreved on roller:

end after eQiLZZ-a'is eter zed" 30.1 V seat 118? Ghel embankment e ihe iimentien, it eing undersiped .ihat

f -he em edim ix 'il usflmedfis ueeeptible of werieus'medifi at'iens with resp ei a rta n de ails :the of i heet departing v,f-mm the scraps hof the qp pended v 7 :Referring -1 Pthe drawin nume al 5? desi ates w m n =ef fil piping 9 e leyranlie ee ing rsysle'm ef a ship. Hydr .r ienmined "pr su e r-in Pip .19 :by p iatienldf ii flfflm {p011 or starboard fluid pumps x10 0; .11, .depemding upnn whisk is selected iorepemiinn, pumps lqlasg dflll :are'driven ,byme eleetriemomrs L12 and 1 lifispecfiyely, @w ,iah are :energizable from iindepenent v,fieurces @o'ifhree A solenoid waive relay 1 9 phase AJC. electrical power r-LSIL BPIY reemprising the supply lines L1, L2 and I3 and the sugplyilines grid L6, ,respecfivem eperating c il 1 ais1 nergized Qp rati eeil 4 connected on one side to '1ineL2 and an its other siiie 41am: 25b ,in ici rcgitb r 1 rims 1hree pos.1. 1ens,-.-

, and 265 are both open,

eresed endieenimt 26 isiepe and i fi montaet .2541 zis openjandxe mally gopen cfmta t i144? gfcejntaeter rera 'za, hereinafter dessribed; ,fiqljnially glosedem rectified of timing :r e1ay"-2 3*is 4:0

describei'ri-s cdimeted bsetwree .gization 'ofselegQid-gebi 7 1 15 3;? 0. 1 51 is ee n e d on n in line L5 andnsconneet-ahleonjts other side 10 georm te a eemmen p i t. X A n ma ly s eneid velve 116 is located betw en the discharge en ef pump 11 em! p ping 9 id'iS a ap t epen hen i e enoid eeil 16a is energized. A solenoid valve relay 18 having B01: m ly ep n cont cts v1 and He the -eireu t e me N l b tw n lin s L1 d -speetive y, and, se eneid 1 16a f eets en rgizer-i n 0f e en 'c e l 6a Whenever its relay coi 18a is ener zed- Relay l 18a is @91 n ted on. neside li 2 an i een tabl en i s other side to a eemmeepei Y 't reugh e er elly @1 91; con ct b e --a p essure e i h 0- ;A ne elly even contact 18d of :relay 18 is cenneeted in .eireuitbgtweeg wmmen points X. end. Y- Th fer rnent e d pressu s h '20 h s a Pr ur reep ns e a uato 2 a Pipin 9 'in sseeietien wi h eel oid valve l Ups!!! ydr ul c flu r-pv 'es i re wi l ca se eters @flqeefi 21a, h e naf r d scribed iqefieet cl ure f c m r 1 d less 91; pres ure due in losure ef v s l Me um em .efleet :i an neeus-npeninz r.

vte Th v nting 1 a lf a timi g r lay :2 s nnee e n o e s de '19 line :LzZ end on itsether iis emmen win; 2-

ennez t dee es new re t. zflb-eflfheep r etin i h. i m zn -M2455 r e emmee @eint ,A.-; e me y apex: flan-tee; relay 24 is eonnecte n s'eriesTwidl a nerm 11- fr:1;errzmllyop in ef se eneidrv l e 6 e l a ion-9 1 5.19

an nta t I eentaet 20b a d enemas 0f reonl et 2.112 sher 'yfthe nexmal y 'ei se e ntaet 3: 1," epen see eonnect'ed onone side tovh n'e L2. fid on its gher 1 8 bet'wee 1 is cennecteld be ween I 1.

er fnerme y pen eels:

tG-Lo'sed @116 second after itsee A1 1 eleci-rorespensive :Qonta zopenconfeacts 15b, lia and d in thf [011E side rosli-rie L5 :and m iit sxather side to .a icomrrrgn h nev r i erelay ee. 1

is energized.

,rnon point V through a Qgomnally -qp.e n content 21b Qf 1 .e pr s u e switch 21. n rma11y r p n .een a 19 91? relay :1 is onnec e circu t etwee re mmen ,pqint D and V. 'flihe aferementiened p s u sw t 2. a pressure responsive actuator 21a in piping) in asso- -of contact lde with no immediate effect. 20f timing relay 24 effects closure of contact 24b with no eiation with solenoid valve 17. Upon opening of solenoid V va1ve17 and operation of pump 11 hydraulic fluid pressure will cause actuators 21a and 20a to effect closure ofcontact zlb andcontact 20b, respectively, and loss of pressure due to closure of valve 17 if solenoid coil 17a burns out will effect; opening of contact 21b and'iope'ning of contact 20b shortly'thereafter. The operating coil23a of' a timing relay 23 isf connected on one side to line L and on its otherside to common point -W.' A normally 1 closed contact 235, which times open five seconds after coil 23a 'is energized, is connected across contact 21b. The operatingcoil 25a of a timing relay 25'is connected on one side toIineLS and on its other side to common point A normally open contact 2512' of relay 25 is Eonnected in series with anormall'y open contact'l9e of-relay '19 between commonpoints U and W. Normally open contact 26b of selector switch 2 6, hereinbefore' described, is connected between line L4 and common point W. A normally open contact e of contactor 15 is connected in circuit betweenline' L4 and common pQint'W and is in series witha normally open contact 22c, whichltimes closed one second after its coil is energized, of timing relay22; hereinbefore described.

A normally closed contact 22d of timing relay 22 is connected across contact 220. v Anormally open contact 24c, whichc1oses instantaneously when its coil is enerf :gized and opens two seconds after its coil'deenergizes, of

timing'r'elay 24c, hereinbefore described, is connected in circuit between lines L4 and common point W. A normany closed interlock contact-18f of solenoid valve relay 18, hereinbefore described, is connected between common control system operates I in the contact 26a. Closure of contact 26a effects energization of operating coil 22a of timing relay 22 in a circuit extending from line L1, through contact 26a and coil'QZa toline L2 andieflects' energization of coil 18a of solenoid {valve relay 18 .in 'a, circuit extending from line L1,

throughcontact 26a, through contact 19f, through con- -tact 22b and through coil 18a to line L2. Energization of timing relay 22 effects timed closure of contact. 220 with no immediate efiect, opening of contact 22a with no immediate effect, and commencement oftimed opening of contact 22bwhich will open in five "seconds. Enere gization of solenoid valve relay 18 effects closure of contacts 1 8 b and'lsc to energize solenoid coil 16a thereby opening valve '16, closure of'contact 18c with no immediate efiechopening of contact 181 with no immediate 4 r mediate efiect, and commencement of timed opening of contact 23b withnoimmediate effect. Normally upon operation of motor 12 and pump 10 with solenoid valve 16 open, hydraulic fluid pressure builds up in piping 9 and pressure switch actuator 20a responds to effect closure of contact 29b before contact 22b times open. When contact 22b times open, relay coil 18a is maintained energized through contact 20b and the motor 12 continues to operate. Build up of hydraulic fluid pressure also effectsresponse of pressure switch actuator21a to effect closure of contact 215 with no immediate effect.

Assume, however; that upon; closurelof contacts 18b and 18c solenoid valve 16 fails to open for some reason, e.g, because the coil 16a had previously burned out or was otherwise defective, or'because of some mechanical difficulty; In this event, even though pump 16 starts to operate, no fiuid'pressure builds up in piping 9'and pressure switch contacts 20b and 21b fail to close. Then, at the end of its timing interval contact 22b opens to effect eenergization of coil 18d of relay 18. 'Deenergization of coil 18a of relay 18 effects'reopenin'g of contacts'18b opening contacts 18d and 18a effects deener'gization of contactor 14 a'nddeenergization of relay 24. Deenergization of contactor 14 effects disconnection of port motor 12 from its supply and effects opening of contact 14:: with no immediate effect. Deenergization of relay 24 effects reopening of contact 24b with no immediate effect and timed reopening of contact 24c which remains closed for? two, seconds after coil 24a is deenergized. Re-

' closure of contact 18f-effect$ energization of operating 22b and through coil 19a to line L5. Energization of t coil 19a of relay 19 ma circuit extending from line L4, through.contact;,,24c, through contact 181, through contact 23b which has not yet timed open since its timing period'tcommenced later than that of timing contact solenoid valve relay 19 effects closure of contacts 19b and 190 to energizetsolenoid 'coilf17a thus opening valve 17, closure of contact 1912 with no immediate effect, opening of contact 19; with no immediate eflect, and closure 1 of contact 19d. Closure of contact 19d effects energizaeffect, and closure of contact 18d. Closure of contact 118d effects energization of coil 14a of contactor 14 in a circuit extendingfrom line L1, through contact 2611, through contact 19 through contact 18d and through "coil 14a to line L2 and efiectsenergization of coil 24a :of timing relay 24 in a circuit extending from line L1, -through contacts 26a, through contact 19], throughcontactLlSil' and through coil 24a to line L2. Energization -'of contactor 14 effects closure of contacts 14b, 14c and 14d to connect port motor 12 for operation and closure Energization -immediate effect and closure of contact 240, Closure of contact 24c effects encrgization of :coil 23a of timing relay 23 in a circuit; extending from line L4, through contact 24c and through coil 23a to line L5. -Energization of relay 23 effects timed closure of contact23c with ,uo immediate effect, opening. of. contact 2.34 with no tion of coil'15a of contactor .15 in a circuit extending.

from line L4, through contact 240, through contact 18f,

through contact 19d and throgh coil 15a to line L5 andv effects energization of coil 25a of timing relay 2 5 in a.

circuit extending from'linefL4, through contact 240',

through contact 18 through Y contact 19d and through" coil 25a to line L5. Energization of contactor 15 efiects closure of contacts 15b, 15c and 15d to connect starboard motor'13 for operation and closure of contact 15e. Closure of contact 1 5e establishes a maintainingcircuit for relay'coils 14a, 23a and 25a and contactor coil 15afrom line L4, through contact 15c and through contact 220 to common point; W when contacts 240 times open.

Energization of timing relay 25 effects closure of contact 250 with no immediate effect and closure of'contact 25b with no immediate efiect. Upon operation of motor 13.and pump '11 with' solenoid valve 17 open, hydraulic 'fluid pressure builds up in piping 9 and pressure switch actuator 21a responds to effect closure of contact 2111 a a pressure switch actuator 2011' to effect closure of contact 20b with no immediate effect. Pump ll will continue .to operate untill motor 13 is deenergized by movementzo'f selector switch 26 to Off.

Now assume that solenoid valve 16 closes for some reason after pump 10v has been in operation and that timer contactsj22h and 23b ,have previously opened.

'When solenoid valve .16 closes, fluid pressure in piping 9 drops OE and pressure switch actuator 20;: responds to open contact 20b, Pressure switch actuator 21:; also responds but contact 21b opens after contact 20b. Opening of contact 20b effects deenergization of coil 18a of relay 18 with the results hereinbefore described but the circuit for the energization of coil "19a of relay 19 is initially established from line L4, through contact 240, through contact 18 through contact 21b and through coil 19a to line L5 rather than through contact 23b. Operation is thus transferred from pump to pump 11.

Now assume that port pump 10 is in operation but that low voltage occurs in lines L1, L2 and L3. This occurrence will have the efiect of deenergizi-ng relay coils 18a, 24a and 22a and contactor coil 14a. Operation then temporarily transfers to starboard pump 11 in the manner hereinbefore described until normal voltage is restored. Coil 19a of relay 19, however, initially becomes energized in a circuit extending from line L4, through contact 240 which does not immediately open when relay 24 deenergizes, through contact 18 which closes instantaneously when relay 18 deenergizes, through contact 21b-which remains closed as some fluid pressure is still maintained in piping 9 and through coil 19a to line L5. When contact 240 times open, the-circuit between line L4 and common point W is maintained through contact 152 which closed when contactor was energized and through contact 22d which reclosed when relay 22 deenergized. When normal voltage returns to lines L1, L2 and L3, relay 22 becomes energized in a circuit extending between line L1 through contact 26 and through coil 22a to line L2 to effect opening of contact 22d, timed closure of contact 220 and timed opening of contact 22b. Opening of contact 22d effects deenergization of relays 25, 23, 19 and contactor 15 to stop starboard motor 13.

Deenergization of relay 19 effects reopening of contacts 19b and 19c, reclosure of contact 19 and relay 18 is reenergized to efiect restarting of port motor 12.

If initially it is desired to select the starboard pump for operation and to maintain the port pump as the auxiliary, selector switch 26 is moved to Starboard position. Thereafter operation will be substantially as hereinbefore described.

It will be apparent that although the invention disclosed herein is embodied in the steering apparatus of a ship, other embodiments are possible.

We claim: 7

1. In combination, a pair of electrical translating devices, an independent source of electrical power supply for each of said devices. apparatus associated with each of said translating devices and adapted to operate concurrently therewith, and control means having means for selectively effecting operation of one or the other of said devices and its associated apparatus at any given time, said control means also including means to eflfect automatic permanent transfer of operation from a selected device to the other device upon the occurrence of a fault in the apparatus associated with said selected device, and said control means further including means to efiect temporary transfer of operation from said selected device to the other upon the occurrence of a fault in the electrical power supply for said selected device until said fault in the power supply is corrected.

2. In combination, a pair of electrical translating devices each of which comprises a motor and a pump, an independent source of electrical power supply for each of said devices, a valve associated with each pump and adapted to operate concurrently therewith, and control means having means for selectively effecting operation of one or the other of said devices and its valve at any given time, said control means also including means to effect automatic permanent transfer ofoperation from one device to the other in the event of a failure of the all valve associated with the pump of said one device, and said control means further including means to effect temporary transfer of operation from one device to the other in the event of low voltage in the power supply for the motor of said one device until said normal voltage in the power supply is restored.

3. In combination, a pair of translating devices, independent sources of electrical power supply for each of said translating devices and a controller comprising a pair of contactors each of which is energizable to effect energization of a respective translating device from its respective source of electrical power supply and means for effecting selected energization of one or the other of said contactors, said means also including means to effect deenergization of a selected contactor and energization of the other contactor in the event of low voltage in the power supply for the translating device energized through said selected contactor, and said means further including means to efit'ect deenergization of said other contactor and reener-gization of said selected contactor upon the restoration of normal voltage in the power supply for the translating device energized through said selected contactor.

4. In combination, a pair of translating devices, independent sources of electrical power for each of said translating devices, and a controller comprising a pair of electroresponsive contactors each of which is energizable to connect respective ones of said translating devices to their respective sources of power, a pair of first electroresponsive timing relays, a pair of main electroresponsive relays, a pair of second electroresponsive timing relays and a selector switch, said selector switch being selectively operable to one position to energize one of said first timing relays and one of said main relays and to another position to alternatively-energize the other of said first timing relays and the other of said main relays, energization of a selected main relay effecting energization of one of said contactors to connect a selected translating device to its source of power and energization of one of said second timing relays, said controller including means responsive to low voltage in the power supply to which the selected translating device is connected to deenergize said one of said main relays and energize the other of said main relays, energization of said other of said main relays elfecting energization of the other contactor to connect the other translating device toits source of power and also elfecting energization of the other of said second timing relays, energization of said other of said second timingrelays establishing a maintaining circuit for said,

other of said main relays, and said controller further including means responsive to restoration of normal volt age in the power supply for said selected one of said I translating devices to elfect reenergization of said one of said first timing relays to effect deenergization of said other of said main relays and following deenergization of said other of said contactors and said other of said second timing relays, deenergization of said other of said main relays eifecting reenergization of said one of said main relays to afford reenergization of said one of said contactors and said one of said second timing relays.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

